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The Caribbean Cultural
Centre
The fusion of the Arts
and Technology has been adopted as a guiding principle as UTech pursues
its mission of producing graduates whose creative imagination, released
through exposure to the Arts, will “humanize” Technology without losing
any of the benefits of technology.
In keeping with this
mission and to further the general development of the institution, plans
are underway to construct, on the campus of the University of
Technology, Jamaica (UTech), a physical complex that can serve as a
theatre for the performing arts, an exhibition space for the visual
arts, studios for training and practicing a variety of art forms, a
facility of research and study; in short, a Caribbean Cultural Centre.
The Centre will not only
be a work of art, but also a technological achievement in the life of
the University, and it is intended that its construction will be a major
expression of the integration process.
The Caribbean Cultural
Centre is also an expansion of the interim Centre for the Arts, which,
according to its mission statement, seeks to facilitate the development
of a holistic human being sustained through the Arts, within an
environment that fosters the growth of authentic enquiring minds.
The Caribbean Cultural
Centre will be a centre of excellence, providing first-class facilities,
and services to many, directly and indirectly.
The Centre will house:
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A
concert hall with a capacity to accommodate 1200 – 1500 persons, while
at the same time flexible enough in its interior design to be converted
for seating, standing or dancing.
-
Studio
spaces for practice and training of students, professors, visiting
artists etc.
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Exhibition
gallery and shops
The Centre will be a
laboratory, incubator, and showcase for Jamaican creativity at its best.
The facilities will benefit the students and staff of UTech, visiting
academics (students and professors), artistes and artists of all kinds
(Jamaican as well as visiting), participants in UTech’s outreach
activities, Jamaica’s youth, and the general public.
The Caribbean Cultural
Centre will provide the quality environment for these individuals, which
will encourage and embrace such activities as debates, conferences,
seminars, and forums with the most prestigious and outstanding cultural
and intellectual persons, within the region and internationally.
In so doing, not only
will students be encouraged to participate in public concerns on a grand
scale, but they will also be schooled in the art of public speaking,
while at the same time gain self confidence and exposure. More
importantly, this intimate experiencing of these individuals will offer
positive mentors for the students to emulate.
The Centre will continue
to function as an organization that develops and promotes culture from a
multifaceted perspective. Therefore, the ongoing exchange between
professionals and students (both locally and internationally), will be
an integral aspect of the general experience of the Centre. In essence,
there will be a sense of an international flavour to the sensibility of
the Centre, yet maintaining its truly Caribbean flavour.
The Centre will
facilitate and/ or create inter-institutional exchange programmes to
foster sharing of ideas and creativity among universities across the
world.
The Caribbean Cultural
Centre will continue to develop outreach activities to increase UTech’s
impact on the social, cultural and technological development of the
immediate community, and more importantly, it will contribute towards
nation building.
Warner’s Corner
 Warner’s Corner, which
is situated under a mango tree, was the venue for the first set of
classes during which time it was considered the ‘Cultural Centre’. The
teacher of these cultural awareness classes, Dr. Earl Warner later died
due to medical circumstances. In memory of this great and energetic
individual and the tremendous work he had done, the area was formerly
named “Warner’s Corner”. This location still hosts spirited discussions
and symposiums not only in the arts but in other areas of discipline
with the newly founded “Open Mic” Sessions being one of the many student
activities being staged there. |
